What are your thoughts on Roman Catholics and Roman Catholicism?

Question

And Catholics and Catholicism in general? Respectful answers please.

Answer 1

"They are wrong"??

Why doesn't that surprised me? I have to wonder how many people who say things like that have actually talked to a Catholic to find out what we believe and why we believe it. Or are they just parroting what Pastor So-and-so or some Sunday school teacher said about those "horrible" Catholics and Catholicism?

If you're going to bash the Church and tell us we're wrong, the least you could do is A) elaborate and B) cite your sources for the information you're putting out there. And BTW, just saying "the Bible" doesn't count. We Catholics read the Bible, too -- our doctrine and sacred traditions come from Scripture.

Edit:

Oh, how delightful -- now we're "not Christians and not saved." Says who? We worship the one living and true God, and we believe that the only means of salvation is by accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior. It's through the shedding His Precious Blood as the pure and holy sacrifice that all my sins were forgiven.

And that would make me not Christian and unsaved. . .exactly how again?

Answer 2

A lot of what you are saying is based on ignorance to the Catholic church. For one thing, Mary could not have even been born without sin, because in order for Jesus to have been born from her, she couldn't have sin on her. You can be forgiven for your sins, but that doesn't change the fact that you still have sin. The RC Church doesn't teach Marian Worship. If you actually knew anything, you would know that prayers to Mary and to Saints are actually optional. It is in no way worship, it is asking people to pray for us. Ever asked a friend to pray for you? Ya, it's like that. The Bible does teach that Peter is the head of the church "On this Rock I shall build Church. Why does everyone get so hung up on the fact that the RC Church's headquartered in Rome? Peter is BURRIED in Rome, so check your facts! For issues such as confession: Confession is completely Biblical. When Jesus breathed on the Apostles and said "Go forgive the sins of the world". What was that? Jesus just said that to say that? How about the Eucharist: Jesus said "This IS (notice, he said is) my Body". Jesus would not say that something is his body without meaning it. Maybe you should do your research on BOTH sides of the issue, before blindly believing in what others say about Catholicism. BELIEVE ME, I have done my research, I go to a non-Denom Christian University, I'm flooded with Non-Denom Crap!

Answer 3

I was raised Catholic before converting to Buddhism. The only reason I left Catholicism is because I honestly can not believe in the Old Testament version of God and I do not agree with their belief that animals don't have souls.
I still have much respect for the religion and beliefs in general. I even keep the St. Christopher my daddy gave me in my car and proudly display the St Jude and St Francis statues he bought me. You know I never see Catholics on here spreading propaganda and trying to discredit other religions. I do not understand what the fundamentalists think they gain by doing so. It really only makes me respect the Catholics more and disrespect the fundamentalists. I would never join any religion that felt the need to slander other religions.
"When you judge others, you have no time to love them."
- Mother Teresa

Answer 4

Though I married a Catholic, and raised the children in the Roman Catholic faith--the Lutheran in me does come out regarding the Saints and the Pope.

As far as the mass/service goes--they are now nearly identical--I will go to any Catholic or Lutheran church that is open when I can go.

Answer 5

Catholics are the oldest sect of Christianity and practice many of the ideas of the Bible to the letter. They are good people. They may have the annoying tendency to protest against abortions right in the ******* parking lot, but hey, it's what they're religion tells them.

In the religious classes I was forced to go too, they (Tried) to teach me all about Jesus, the Covenants that God (Supposedly) made with Humanity, the Ten Commandments and even Revelations. They covered everything and are unwavering in their ideas, which is looked highly upon in the Christian world, as far as I can tell

While I am an Atheist, they are the nicest people and are ones that would respect my ideas

Answer 6

I love the ritual the religion offers, and I like a lot of their philosophies regarding Human Solidarity, and social responsibility. As a lasped Catholic, I miss it, I want to go Church and feel the faith and wonder I did as a child, but I grew more and more dissillusioned with the Church as I grew older, and the lsat straw was when my uncle couldn't have a funereal Mass said for him after his death. I can respect the Church for following its beliefs, but I just don't share them.

As for Catholics in general, they're really great people to drink with =)

Answer 7

The Catholic Church is the original Church founded by Christ. We are the only ones that can trace our history back to the time of Christ, and the only Church given authority by Him.

Answer 8

Well, having had some family background in this religion, I believe I am qualified to give an opinion. First I should say that I do know Catholics who happen to be personal friends. However, we basically agree to disagree. Even THEY do not really understand all of the ritual and dogma that is involved with their beliefs, but rather they were born into families who's parents were strict and devout in the Church's teachings and thus the children were taught and expected to think the same, even if they disagreed OR as adults CHOOSE to do things contrary to those teachings. One common theme I have seen in my friends AND in distant relatives, is that apparently it is A-OK to drink alcohol in excess, to swear like sailors, and unbelievably, to refer to black people as the horrible N word! No kidding, they ALL do this without even batting an eye, as if it is NORMAL behavior! Go figure. But, on a more serious note, having learned in my own lifetime the very big discrepancies found in the Bible versus what the Catholic Church teaches are by far the most obvious to me. Such as idol worship, or calling earthly men Father (religious men) or the trinity and hellfire doctrines, and the pagan origins of all the Holidays. Those are the major reasons I disagree with their teachings. EDIT: TOP OF THE LINE - ARE YOU NOTICING ALL OF THE THUMBS DOWN?? WHAT WOULD YOU THINK OF THAT??? THERE IS NOTHING IN MY ANSWER THAT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO YOU OR YOUR QUESTION, BUT YET APPARENTLY SOME CATHOLICS CAN'T HANDLE SOMEONE ELSE'S OPINION! THERE IS SOMETHING VERY ARROGANT AND SELF-RIGHTCHEOUS ABOUT THAT! I NEVER THUMB-DOWN PEOPLE WHO'S ANSWER I DISAGREE WITH, I ONLY USE THAT FEATURE IF THE ANSWER IS CLEARLY ABUSIVE OR OVERLY RUDE. THANKS ALL OF YOU CATHOLIC THUMB-DOWNERS, YOU PROVED ONCE AGAIN TO ME AND EVERYONE ELSE WHAT HYPOCRITES YOU REALLY ARE!

Answer 9

I have a very hard time believing we are all born bad ( original sin) and that we must be repentant and beg for forgiveness our whole lives. Although I am a follower of the original message of Jesus (see the Essene), it bothers me that the enduring symbol of any religion is a man crucifed on a cross.. His message was one of hope, of love, of trust...even in the most difficult of times. The practice of converting people in physical distress to catholicsm in exhnage for help is something that just does not see right. Help them if you wish, but without any conditions on their relationship to God.

Answer 10

The Catholic Church preserved Christianity all through its turbulent History; without the Catholics, Christianity would be dead.